Water containing fullerenes and method for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for producing healthy drinking water containing fullerenes, which is excellent as healthy water, are provided. In high-pressure water, by burning a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen and burning carbon using the combustion gas generated, water containing fullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating in water, is produced. The water containing fullerenes obtained is useful as healthy drinking water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water containing fullerenes. It relatesto a method for producing water containing fullerenes floating, whichcomprise 60 carbon atoms forming a spheroidal structure, and anapparatus for producing the same, and healthy drinking water obtainedfrom the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since long ago, charcoal and carbon have been of use in various ways invarious fields, and found useful particularly for deodorization andpreservation from decay, etc. Carbon's effects on the human body inhealth and medical treatment have also been recognized. Coping withrecent social trends in health consciousness, use of carbon forhealth-related aspects is seen in a new light. Bicho-charcoal and bamboocharcoal are sold and used for water quality improvement and cooking,and charcoal and carbon are increasingly attracting attention.

In fields of using charcoal and carbon materials, a new material called“fullerene” was discovered more than ten years ago and was recognized asthe third crystallization following diamond and graphite. In 1990,German and US joint research successfully isolated fullerenes from sootproduced under special conditions. Since it was reported that apotassium-metal-doped fullerene film exhibited superconductivity at thecritical temperature of 18K, fullerene research has accelerated at astretch. Due to good prospects for mass production methods for isolatingfullerenes and physical properties exhibited by fullerenes, it attractsresearchers' curiosities in both basic and applied disciplines stillmore. If fullerene research and technological development should advanceto health-related fields, a Nobel prize will be awarded for suchachievements (K. Tanigaki, K. Kikuchi, Y. Ajiha, & K. Iriyama.Fullerene. Sangyo-tosho Co. Ltd., October 1992, xvii.)

Typically, a fullerene comprises 60 carbon atoms forming a spheroidalstructure. It is a carbon molecule with a structure of a soccer-balllike pattern combining pentagons and hexagons. It is a physically andchemically stable molecule and is known to have physical propertiesshown in FIG. 4 (op. cit. p.16).

Synthesis of a fullerene by a chemical reaction has not been reported.As described above, producing fullerene by physical methods has becomepossible. A typical production method is that: graphite is vaporized byarc discharge or laser beam irradiation to generate carbon vapor, thecarbon vapor is cooled down to form soot, and a fullerene is generatedin soot. Fullerene obtained by these methods has a soccer-ball likestructure of 60 carbon atoms forming a spheroidal structure as shown inFIG. 3. This structure is considered to form as follows: Graphite isisolated from impurities; A five-hexagon structure changes to amorning-glory-flower-shape like structure; Carbon atoms are rearrangedto approach a spherical shape and changes to a soccer-ball shape, whichis energy-wise a stable structure. Fullerene generated in soot isisolated and refined by dissolving it in a solution using a refiningmethod such as a column liquid chromatography method, etc.

The soccer-ball like structure of fullerene has been confirmed by a C₆₀peak by a mass spectrum, crystal structure analysis by an X-ray, and a¹³C-NMR spectrum, an infrared absorption spectrum, etc.

Thus, as production and refining methods for fullerene have beenestablished and its physical and chemical properties have become clear,it attracts attention as a new next-generation functionality materialand its serviceable use in various fields begins developing.Technologies for using fullerene are being developed: for example, inthe electronics field it is used as a superconductive material, asemiconductor material or a material with strong magnetism; in thephysical material field as a non-linear optical material, a catalyst,etc.; in the mechanical material field, as micro lubricant, a bufferagent, etc. Furthermore, use of fullerene for bioactive materials, foodmaterials or medicines is also being proposed.

Additionally, although its details are not clear, it is reported thatdevelopment of a new structural material including metal atoms such as Kor La inside a spheroidal structure also attracted interests.

It is usual that a number of patent applications are reported as a newmaterial technology develops. Fullerene is no exception to this rule. Awide range of patent information from improvement of methods forproducing and refining fullerene to using it in the electronics,physical material or mechanical material fields has been laid open.Almost no patent journal information on use of fullerene for bioactivematerials, food materials or medicines has been laid open. If seeing afew technologies laid open until now in these fields, technologies whichhave been reported include: method for preserving the high degree offreshness and quality by infiltrating an ultrafine particle carboncomposition solution containing fullerenes into food such as grainreported in the Japanese Patent Laid-open No.10-45408 journal, methodfor inactivating a virus by oxygen in a singlet state where fullerenesare activated and by applying rays reported in the Japanese PatentLaid-open No.9-322767 journal, cosmetic for sunburn care containingfullerenes dissolved in its oil ingredient, whose color is inconspicuouswhen applied and which is excellent in sunburn protection reported inthe Japanese Patent Laid-open No.9-278825 journal, etc.

Application of fullerene to bioactive materials, food materials ormedicines is extremely important as technological development directlyrelated to daily life and the scope of use is expected to expand. In themedical field, research on fullerene as a substance to enhance immunityeffects of a living body is being conducted for cancer treatmentpurpose, etc. For example, if fullerene with fixed molecular weight isgiven to a leukocyte, production of an immune substance is stimulated.Because fullerene is made of carbon in its entirety, its destructionspeed in the body system is remarkably slow, which makes it possible tobe absorbed into the intestinal tract in the unit of nm, which isdifferent in size from regular charcoal.

The Invention Laid Open

As described above, expansion of fullerene's application to bioactivematerials, food materials or medicines is greatly hoped for. The presentinvention aims to solve the above-mentioned problem with the object ofmaking the best use of this apparently unlimited serviceability offullerene particularly in the fields of bioactive materials, foodmaterials or medicines.

Having come to discover that using water containing fullerenes fordrinking can improve the condition of health, for example, improvingbioactive functions, the inventors of the present invention completedthe present invention.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a methodfor efficiently producing water containing fullerenes, which contributesto improvement of health conditions, and an apparatus for producing thesame.

In other words, the present invention aims to contribute totechnological development of fullerene and expansion of its applicationsby solving the above-mentioned problem. It has developed a new methodfor producing water containing fullerenes and an apparatus for producingthe same, and healthy drinking water utilizing the newly developed watercontaining fullerenes.

In the present invention, water containing fullerenes which includewater molecules is referred to as “water containing fullerenes”.

Fundamental characteristics of the present invention are to generatefullerenes which include water molecules and drinking water in whichfullerenes are floating by producing fullerenes in high-pressure water.Specifically, the characteristics of the present invention are listed in(1) to (4) below.

A method for producing water containing fullerenes, which include watermolecules and are floating in water, by burning a mixed gas of oxygenand hydrogen in high-pressure water and burning a graphite bar with acombustion gas generated.

An apparatus for producing water containing fullerenes, which includewater molecules and are floating in water. The apparatus possesses atank holding high-pressure water, a jet nozzle for a mixed gas of oxygenand hydrogen, a graphite bar, an ignition system and a combustionchamber.

The apparatus for producing water containing fullerenes described in (2)above, which is characterized in that a mixed gas fuel of oxygen andhydrogen is provided by electrolyzing water.

Healthy drinking water obtained by purifying water containingfullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating in water.

The most important characteristic of the present invention is based onnew knowledge that, unlike water containing fullerenes in whichfullerenes simply are floating, the water containing fullerenesaccording to the present invention, in which fullerenes including watermolecules are floating in water, and these water molecules includedcorrelatively act with a fullerene structure to achieve a new andremarkable bioactive action.

In response to recent social trends in health consciousness, healthydrinking water produced according to the present invention by purifyingwater containing fullerenes, which include water molecules and arefloating in water, is expected to become an epoch-making beveragesufficiently addressing requests for improvement of health. Although thereasons why fullerenes which include water molecules are efficacious tohealth and what kind of bioactive actions they possess are unknown atpresent, the present invention and others are diligently conductingresearch to clarify the mechanisms of fullerene efficacies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1: A flow chart of producing water containing fullerenes accordingto the present invention

FIG. 2: A schematic sketch of an apparatus for producing watercontaining fullerenes according to the present invention

FIG. 3: A crystal structure sketch of water containing fullerenes whichinclude water molecules according to the present invention

FIG. 4: Reported physical properties of fullerene

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As described above, methods for producing fullerene itself according toan industrial production scale have been established. Among them, atypical production method is that graphite of an electrode is vaporizedby arc discharge or laser beam irradiation to generate carbon vapor, thecarbon vapor is cooled down to form soot, and fullerenes are generatedin soot. Fullerene molecules including metal atoms such as K and La arealso produced by vaporizing graphite by arc discharge or laser beamirradiation. The present invention, however, does not relate to a methodfor producing fullerene itself, but it is characterized in that itrelates to production of water containing fullerenes which include watermolecules.

Water containing fullerenes which include water molecules, which isobtained by the present invention, is a new product which has not beenproduced up to this time. The present invention does not usevaporization techniques using are discharge or laser beam irradiation,which are conventionally known. It discloses a new method for producingwater containing fullerenes using a combustion method.

After diligent examination in consideration of producing watercontaining fullerenes efficiently and economically and serving it fordrinking, the inventors of the present invention came up with an idea ona method in which hydrogen and oxygen are burned, a pure graphite bar isinserted and heated in a combustion gas generated, and they were able toproduce water containing fullerenes by burning hydrogen and oxygen inhigh-pressure water so that no substances other than water and carbonwere not produced by burning hydrogen and oxygen in water.

Because the amount of fullerenes contained in water containingfullerenes, which is obtained by the present invention, is very smalland is beyond analysis limits, it cannot be identified easily, but itcan be confirmed by precision analysis. Not all carbon constitutesgenerated in water by the above-mentioned method are fullerenes.Unburned carbon is also included. Because there is a limit for theamount of unburned carbon to be taken for drinking, it is necessary tocontrol reaction time and the amount of fuel to be burned. If thereaction time is short, water produced does not have specific effects.If the reaction time is too long, water tastes bitter and is notsuitable for drinking.

As described above, the present invention has newly developed a methodfor producing water containing fullerenes, which include water moleculesand are floating in water being processed, and an apparatus forproducing the same.

Referring to figures, a method and an apparatus according to the presentinvention are described in detail in the following:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of producing water containing fullerenesaccording to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a pressure-resistantcontainer for producing water containing fullerenes according to theinvention. FIG. 3 is a crystal structure of water containing fullerenesobtained by the invention. FIG. 4 shows physical properties of fullereneitself.

An apparatus 1 for producing water containing fullerenes according tothe invention comprises a pressure-resistant container 2 for producingwater containing fullerenes, a water electrolyzer 3 for generating rawmaterial gases and a filtration device 4 for water containingfullerenes.

The basic structure of the pressure-resistant container 2 according tothe invention is an apparatus for producing water containing fullerenes,which include water molecules and are floating in water, comprising atank 5 holding high-pressure water, a jet nozzle 14 for a mixed gas ofoxygen and hydrogen, a combustion chamber 6 and a graphite bar 10. Tothis apparatus, a water electrolyzer 3 to supply raw material gasses,hydrogen and oxygen, and a filtration device 4 for water containingfullerenes obtained are attached.

The pressure-resistant container 2 according to the invention comprisesa metal tank, preferably a steel tank 5 holding high-pressure water. Inthe tank 5 holding high-pressure water, a mixed gas of oxygen andhydrogen, which are generated by the water electrolyzer 3 and aresupplied from a hydrogen gas supply path 16 and an oxygen supply path17, are blown out at high pressure from the jet nozzle 14 into thecombustion chamber 6. Inside the combustion chamber 4, a graphite bar 10is gradually pushed out from a supply cylinder 13 according to thecombustion amount. A mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen is ignited by anignition system 11 and carbon or fullerenes containing water moleculesare discharged in pressurized water 9. The high-pressure water 9containing these is taken out from an outlet 8 at the bottom of the tankholding high-pressure water and properly is filtrated by the filtrationdevice 4.

Of the above-mentioned, in place of the water electrolyzer 3 forgenerating raw material gases, high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen gascylinders can be used. There is, however, an advantage of using thewater electrolyzer as used in the present invention over usinghigh-pressure hydrogen gas and oxygen gas cylinders, i.e., oxygen andhydrogen supplied by water electrolysis are completely pure gases, henceraw material gases used as fuel gases can be supplied efficiently.

In the present invention, in an example of generating hydrogen 16 andoxygen 17 by water electrolysis conducted in the water electrolyzer 3for generating raw material gases for producing water, 18, 18′ and 19respectively show cathode plates and an anode plate. As described above,it is possible to supply hydrogen and oxygen inside the tank holdinghigh-pressure water directly from each high-pressure hydrogen and oxygengas cylinder.

In this apparatus, a mixed gas is perfectly burned by jetting outhydrogen 16 and oxygen 17 generated by electrolysis into the combustionchamber from the nozzle 14 through the pump, achieving a perfectvapor-gas combustion state at a very high temperature. A pure graphitebar 10 is inserted in this combustion gas, heated and burned. Thegraphite bar is supplied from inside the cylinder 13 by specific amountaccording to the amount burned. During the combustion, it is necessaryto control a mixing ratio of hydrogen 16 to oxygen 17 to be strictly2:1. It is also necessary to control a pressure inside the tank holdinghigh-pressure water by providing a pressure control valve.

When carbon 12 heated and burned at a high temperature inside thecombustion chamber 6 is discharged from the combustion chamber 4 intothe high-pressure water 9, a part of carbon forms a crystal structure.This crystal structure is considered to be a morning-glory-flower-shapelike carbon structure consisting of five hexagon structures called“corannulene”. Carbon atoms, then, are rearranged, changing to a nearlyspherical shape. At this time, one water molecule is taken in andfullerene having a cage structure larger than the water moleculecontains the water molecule, changing to a soccer-ball shape, which isenergy-wise a stable structure.

Main fullerenes generated by combustion of the graphite bar are of theC₆₀ structure. As described above, fullerene having a cage structurelarger than a water molecule contains a water molecule. As shown in FIG.3 as a type sketch, this structure is a state in which a water molecule,which is indicated as a circular dotted line, is contained in asoccer-ball-shaped structure.

As the result that a fullerene structure in this state is generated, itis estimated that stable carbon molecules with exceedingly highhydrophobicity are floating in water, and without using an activatingagent, an apparent dissolution state is achieved.

For example, on a production scale of producing one ton of watercontaining fullerenes, jetting a mixed gas in an injection quantity ofapproximately 5 L/sec. for approximately two hours is appropriate. Ifgas pressure applied is excessive, there is a risk of destroying thestructure of the apparatus. If gas pressure applied is not sufficient,gas is blown up from the combustion chamber, carbon heated is emitted onthe water as it is being covered by a bubble. This worsens generation offullerenes. A preferable air pressure at this time is approximately 3.5atmospheres. A pressure of high-pressure water inside the tank holdinghigh-pressure water is set to two atmospheres.

The apparatus is operated in the following manner: High-pressurehydrogen gas 16 and oxygen 17 are jetted from the nozzle 14 through thepump inside the tank holding high-pressure water and are ignited by anignition system 11, creating a vapor-gas combustion state at a very hightemperature. The pure graphite bar 10 is inserted in the combustion gasand is burned.

Further, in this apparatus, not to produce substances other than waterand carbon or fullerenes, it makes it requisite to burn hydrogen andoxygen in water. At this time, to burn hydrogen and oxygen purely inwater without containing impurities, it is necessary to burn them underhigh pressure. The position to insert a graphite bar should be within asphere where a mixed gas is burned perfectly and is vaporized at acompletely high temperature. Because fullerenes containing watermolecules, which are generated, are carbon molecules with exceedinglyhigh hydrophobicity, they float in water in a stable state and anapparent dissolution state is achieved without using an activatingagent. New water containing fullerenes produced in this way is taken outfrom the outlet and is fed to the filtration system appropriately.

Another characteristic of the present invention is to produce healthydrinking water by purifying water containing fullerenes, which includewater molecules and are floating in water, which was produced asdescribed above. Because a large quantity of unburned carbon is floatingin the water generated and it is not suitable for drinking as it is,water needs to be purified using a filtration system.

For a filtration method in this case, not to remove carbon or fullerenesgenerated more than necessary, using a filtration system for producingwater suitable for drinking is preferable without using methods such asion exchange and a reverse osmosis film methods, etc. In other words, ahollow fiber film is preferable as a filter. Filtrating high-pressurewater drawn off from the tank holding high-pressure water using a hollowfiber film is preferable from points of view of characteristics of watercontaining fullerenes and of filter life. By doing this way, drinkingwater conforms to the Food Hygiene Act can be produced.

Because fullerenes generated are on a scale of nanomicron, it isdifficult to be filtrated using a regular filter. A very small quantityof fullerenes is contained in high-pressure water obtained according tothe present invention.

Modes for carrying out the present invention is specifically describedbelow based on embodiments, modes for carrying out the presentinvention, however, are not limited to these.

Modes for Carrying the Invention

FIG. 2 shows a typical embodiment of an apparatus for producing watercontaining fullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating inwater, according to the present invention. The apparatus comprises atank 5 holding high-pressure water, a jet nozzle 14 for a mixed gas ofoxygen and hydrogen and a graphite bar 10.

The tank 5 holding high-pressure water is a pressure-resistant metaltank which is tolerant to ultrahigh pressure. A mixed gas of oxygen andhydrogen supplied from a hydrogen gas supply path 16 and an oxygensupply path 17 is jetted out into a combustion chamber 6 using a jetnozzle 14. A graphite bar 10 is provided inside the combustion chamberfrom a cylinder 13. It is necessary to control pressure inside the tankholding high-pressure water by a pressure control valve 7. A mixed gasis ignited by an ignition system 11 and fullerenes 12 which includecarbon or water molecules are discharged in the high-pressure water.Water containing fullerenes, which include water molecules and arefloating in water, is taken out from an outlet 8. The water containingfullerenes taken out is appropriately filtrated by the filtration device4 (comprising 21˜24) and becomes a finished product.

This apparatus is operated in the following manner: As described above,by jetting a mixed gas inside a pressurized tank from the nozzle 14 bysupplying hydrogen and oxygen under high pressure, igniting it by anignition system 11, and perfectly burning it, a vapor-gas combustionstate at a very high temperature is achieved. A pure graphite bar 10 isinserted in the combustion gas and is burned. When carbon heated at ahigh temperature inside the nozzle is discharged into high-pressurewater, a part of the carbon forms a crystal structure. Carbon atoms,then, are rearranged, changing to a nearly spherical shape. At thistime, a water molecule is taken in and contained. The shape changes toan energy-wise stable soccer-ball shape. Because fullerene containing awater molecule is a carbon molecule with exceedingly highhydrophobicity, it floats in water in a stable state, and without usingan activating agent, an apparent dissolution state is achieved.

Thus produced new water containing fullerenes is taken out from anoutlet and is fed to a filtration system 4. The filtration system useshollow fiber films. Passing through hollow fiber films of 50μ, 25μ, 3μ,0.5μ, and 0.1μ in order, water containing fullerenes with a very smallquantity of fullerenes is ultimately obtained.

Conditions for Carrying Out the Invention

Internal pressure of a production tank: 2 atm.

Mixed gas: 5 liters/sec. (3.5 atm.)

Jet time: 2 hrs.

Graphite supplied: 1.5 kg/2 hrs.

Produced water containing fullerenes; approx. 1 ton

By filtrating produced water containing fullerenes using hollow fiberfilms of 50μ, 25μ, 3μ, 0.5μ, and 0.1μ in order, healthy drinking watercontaining fullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating inwater.

Sampling of the Healthy Drinking Water

52 adults consisting of men and women sampled healthy drinking watercontaining fullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating inwater, to confirm efficacies and effects toward improving health andbioactive functions.

Sampling Conditions and Results

Sampling amount per day: Up to one glass  5 persons Up to 3 glasses 22 4glasses or more 22 Taste: Tasted nice 39 No taste 13 Smell: Do not mind51 Do mind  1 Efficacy examples: Physical conditions improved 22Appetite improved 32 Supplementary effect on medicinal action 11Constipation relieved 14 Recovering from fatigue 49 Blood sugar levellowered  3 Diarrhea improved  3 Better digestive functions 17 Rough skinrecovered  8 Stiff shoulders relieved 18 Eyestrain recovered  1 Goutrelieved  1 Blood pressure lowered  5 Renal calculus relieved  1Progress of lung cancer stopped  1

According to the above-mentioned results, at the sampling stage, thenumber of people who replied “Tasted nice” was nine times more than thenumber of people who replied “No taste”. As for its smell, nearly allrespondents replied “Do not mind”. From these results, it can be seenthat the water containing fullerenes obtained according to the presentinvention is a beverage which is easy to drink for many people.

Seeing from there were many people who sampled the water containingfullerenes obtained according to the present invention listed effects onhealth-related improvements such as recovering from fatigue, appetiteimproved, physical conditions improved, better digestive functions,stiff shoulders relieved, constipation relieved, etc., the watercontaining fullerenes obtained according to the present invention isconsidered to exhibit sufficient effects as a healthy beverage.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for producingnew water containing fullerenes, and healthy drinking water utilizingthe new water containing fullerenes. With the invention, fullerenes canbe produced in a simplified and efficient manner. Seeing from thesampling test conducted with many monitors, water containing fullerenes,which include water molecules and are floating in water, is remarkablyeffective as a healthy beverage.

Expectations are also placed on use of water containing fullerenespresent invention for improving the body's immune system in addition toits health improvement actions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing water containingfullerenes which includes a mixture of water molecules and fullerenes,comprising the steps of: burning a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen inhigh-pressure water; and burning a graphite bar using the combustion gasgenerated, thereby producing fullerenes in water.
 2. An apparatus forproducing water containing fullerenes which includes a mixture of watermolecules and fullerenes, which comprises a tank holding high-pressurewater, a jet nozzle for jetting out a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogeninto the tank, a graphite bar, an ignition system for burning the mixedgas, and a combustion chamber for burning the graphite bar using theburning mixed gas.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, furthercomprising a water electrolyzer for producing a mixed gas of oxygen andhydrogen.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claims 2, further comprising afiltration system for removing carbon residue.
 5. A healthy drinkingwaater comprising water containing fullerenes obtained by the method ofclaim
 1. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingfiltrating said water containing fullerenes by a filter to remove carbonresidue.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising afiltration system for removing carbon residue.